Brian Flores’ nomination for critical award gives Minnesota Vikings further evidence of his brilliance, and he’s got a difficult path to win
Brian Flores should be the Assistant Coach of the Year winner, but he has some tough competition.
One day after the Minnesota Vikings gave defensive coordinator Brian Flores a contract extension, the Associated Press named him a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year.
In 2024, Flores was also nominated for the award. It was awarded to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who ended up taking the Chicago Bears head coaching job. Johnson is also nominated for Coach of the Year for his work this season.
Brian Flores named finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year
Flores being nominated for Assistant Coach of the Year makes complete sense. His unit in 2025 was arguably the best in the NFL.
- 1st in pressure rate
- 1st in no blitz pressure rate
- 2nd in pass yards per game
- 3rd in yards per game
- 7th in points per game
It’s not just that Flores led a really good unit; he did so with a roster that isn’t the strongest across the board. What Flores did really well was what any coach should do: maximize the unit while minimizing the weaknesses.
The biggest story with the Vikings’ defense was the emergence of defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. After earning a starting job at the end of the 2024 season, Redmond stood out in a big way, earning 6.0 sacks, 12.0 tackles for loss, and five passes defended.
While Flores should be considered a front runner for the award, he will have some big competition.
- Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
- Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph
- Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak
- New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels
The award will be given out at NFL Honors on Feb. 5, 2026.
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